Which statement correctly defines a semantic field?

• A. A figure of speech that substitutes a word with another.
• B. The literal dictionary definitions of words.
• C. A rhetorical device used to create tension.
• D. A set of words linked by a theme; it concentrates meaning and mood through diction.

Answer: (D)

A semantic field is a set of words linked by a common theme that work together to shape meaning and mood through the diction used. When a writer clusters terms around a topic—like nature, danger, or happiness—their shared associations create a cohesive atmosphere and point of reference for the reader. The statement that describes a set of words linked by a theme and that concentrates meaning and mood through diction captures this idea precisely.

Think about a seaside scene: words such as tide, spray, gulls, and horizon all belong to the same field of meaning about the shore. Their connection strengthens the overall feel and focus of the description.

Substituting a word with another is a figure of speech (like metaphor or metonymy), not a semantic field. Dictionary definitions touch on denotation, not how groups of related words work together to shape mood. And a device used to create tension is about effect, not about a linked set of related terms.